Joint Soviet-United States Statement on the Summit Meeting in Geneva

November 21, 1985
By mutual agreement, President of the United States Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev met in
Geneva November 19 - 21. Attending the meeting on the U.S. side were Secretary of State
George Shultz; Chief of Staff Donald Regan; Assistant to the President Robert McFarlane;
Ambassador to the USSR Arthur Hartman; Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of
State for Arms Control Paul H. Nitze; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Rozanne
Ridgway; Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Jack Matlock. Attending
on the Soviet side were Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Minister
of Foreign Affairs E. A. Shevardnadze; First Deputy Foreign Minister G. M. Korniyenko;
Ambassador to the United States A. F. Dobrynin; Head of the Department of Propaganda of the
Central Committee of the CPSU, A. N. Yakovlev; Head of the Department of International
Information of the Central Committee of the CPSU L. M. Zamyatin; Assistant to the General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, A. M. Aleksandrov.

These comprehensive discussions covered the basic questions of U.S.-Soviet relations and the
current international situation. The meetings were frank and useful. Serious differences remain on
a number of critical issues.

While acknowledging the differences in their systems and approaches to international issues, some
greater understanding of each side's view was achieved by the two leaders. They agreed about the
need to improve U.S.-Soviet relations and the international situation as a whole.

In this connection the two sides have confirmed the importance of an ongoing dialogue, reflecting
their strong desire to seek common ground on existing problems.

They agreed to meet again in the nearest future. The General Secretary accepted an invitation by
the President of the United States to visit the United States of America and the President of the
United States accepted an invitation by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the
CPSU to visit the Soviet Union. Arrangements for and timing of the visits will be agreed upon
through diplomatic channels.

In their meetings, agreement was reached on a number of specific issues. Areas of agreement are
registered on the following pages.

Security

The sides, having discussed key security issues, and conscious of the special responsibility of the
USSR and the U.S. for maintaining peace, have agreed that a nuclear war cannot be won and
must never be fought. Recognizing that any conflict between the USSR and the U.S. could have
catastrophic consequences, they emphasized the importance of preventing any war between them,
whether nuclear or conventional. They will not seek to achieve military superiority.

Nuclear and Space Talks

The President and the General Secretary discussed the negotiations on nuclear and space arms.

They agreed to accelerate the work at these negotiations, with a view to accomplishing the tasks
set down in the Joint U.S.-Soviet Agreement of January 8, 1985, namely to prevent an arms race
in space and to terminate it on earth, to limit and reduce nuclear arms and enhance strategic
stability.

Noting the proposals recently tabled by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, they called for early
progress, in particular in areas where there is common ground, including the principle of 50%
reductions in the nuclear arms of the U.S. and the USSR appropriately applied, as well as the idea
of an interim INF agreement.

During the negotiation of these agreements, effective measures for verification of compliance with
obligations assumed will be agreed upon.

Risk Reduction Centers

The sides agreed to study the question at the expert level of centers to reduce nuclear risk taking
into account the issues and developments in the Geneva negotiations. They took satisfaction in
such recent steps in this direction as the modernization of the Soviet-U.S. hotline.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation

General Secretary Gorbachev and President Reagan reaffirmed the commitment of the USSR and
the U.S. to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and their interest in
strengthening together with other countries the non-proliferation regime, and in further enhancing
the effectiveness of the Treaty, inter alia by enlarging its membership.

They note with satisfaction the overall positive results of the recent Review Conference of the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The USSR and the U.S. reaffirm their commitment, assumed by them under the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to pursue negotiations in good faith on matters of nuclear
arms limitation and disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the Treaty.

The two sides plan to continue to promote the strengthening of the International Atomic Energy
Agency and to support the activities of the Agency in implementing safeguards as well as in
promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

They view positively the practice of regular Soviet-U.S. consultations on non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons which have been businesslike and constructive and express their intent to
continue this practice in the future.

Chemical Weapons

In the context of discussing security problems, the two sides reaffirmed that they are in favor of a
general and complete prohibition of chemical weapons and the destruction of existing stockpiles
of such weapons. They agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude an effective and verifiable
international convention on this matter.

The two sides agreed to intensify bilateral discussions on the level of experts on all aspects of
such a chemical weapons ban, including the question of verification. They agreed to initiate a
dialogue on preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons.

MBFR

The two sides emphasized the importance they attach to the Vienna (MBFR) negotiations and
expressed their willingness to work for positive results.

CDE

Attaching great importance to the Stockholm Conference on Confidence and Security Building
Measures and Disarmament in Europe and noting the progress made there, the two sides stated
their intention to facilitate, together with the other participating states, an early and successful
completion of the work of the conference. To this end, they reaffirmed the need for a document
which would include mutually acceptable confidence and security building measures and give
concrete expression and effect to the principle of non-use of force.

Process of Dialogue

President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev agreed on the need to place on a regular basis
and intensify dialogue at various levels. Along with meetings between the leaders of the two
countries, this envisages regular meetings between the USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
U.S. Secretary of State, as well as between the heads of other Ministries and Agencies. They
agree that the recent visits of the heads of Ministries and Departments in such fields as
agriculture, housing and protection of the environment have been useful.

Recognizing that exchanges of views on regional issues on the expert level have proven useful,
they agreed to continue such exchanges on a regular basis.

The sides intend to expand the programs of bilateral cultural, educational and scientific-technical
exchanges, and also to develop trade and economic ties. The President of the United States and
the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU attended the signing of the
Agreement on Contacts and Exchanges in Scientific, Educational and Cultural Fields.

They agreed on the importance of resolving humanitarian cases in the spirit of cooperation.

They believe that there should be greater understanding among our peoples and that to this end
they will encourage greater travel and people-to-people contact.

Northern Pacific Air Safety

The two leaders also noted with satisfaction that, in cooperation with the Government of Japan,
the United States and the Soviet Union have agreed to a set of measures to promote safety on air
routes in the North Pacific and have worked out steps to implement them.

Civil Aviation / Consulates

They acknowledged that delegations from the United States and the Soviet Union have begun
negotiations aimed at resumption of air services. The two leaders expressed their desire to reach a
mutually beneficial agreement at an early date. In this regard, an agreement was reached on the
simultaneous opening of Consulates General in New York and Kiev.

Environmental Protection

Both sides agreed to contribute to the preservation of the environment -- a global task -- through
joint research and practical measures. In accordance with the existing U.S.-Soviet agreement in
this area, consultations will be held next year in Moscow and Washington on specific programs of
cooperation.

Exchange Initiatives

The two leaders agreed on the utility of broadening exchanges and contacts including some of
their new forms in a number of scientific, educational, medical and sports fields (inter alia,
cooperation in the development of educational exchanges and software for elementary and
secondary school instruction; measures to promote Russian language studies in the United States
and English language studies in the USSR; the annual exchange of professors to conduct special
courses in history, culture and economics at the relevant departments of Soviet and American
institutions of higher education; mutual allocation of scholarships for the best students in the
natural sciences, technology, social sciences and humanities for the period of an academic year;
holding regular meets in various sports and increased television coverage of sports events). The
two sides agreed to resume cooperation in combatting cancer diseases.

The relevant agencies in each of the countries are being instructed to develop specific programs
for these exchanges. The resulting programs will be reviewed by the leaders at their next
meeting.

Fusion Research

The two leaders emphasized the potential importance of the work aimed at utilizing controlled
thermonuclear fusion for peaceful purposes and, in this connection, advocated the widest
practicable development of international cooperation in obtaining this source of energy, which is
essentially inexhaustible, for the benefit for all mankind.